by Dan | Jul 19, 2026 | Etc.
This morning I ran 3/4 of a mile. Not fast. Not continuous. But I ran! I have not been able to run for almost 3 months. Years ago I would have laughed at the fact I only ran 3/4 mile. Today, it was a huge milestone for me, and I am grinning ear to ear. My knee finally had no pain. I took Dakota for a walk, and we went 2 miles, and then I walked/ran for 1 1/4 miles, of which 3/4 of it was running. No pain!!! It topped my week. The week started out awful. I had vertigo and was leaning to the right all week. Dizzy, running into the wall. Nauseated. I was on a continuous merry-go-round that would not stop. It is now much better, not gone, but much better.
Friday I went to Brookings and met my daughter Molly and grandson Connor, and granddaughter Tessa, at the Children’s Museum. 5 hours of non stop play!! It was Connor’s 5th birthday, and we had a ball. Running, shopping, climbing, pretending he was a Vet, a farmer, and swimming and fishing!!
Tessa is a natural shopper, and she loves bread, so her cart was “3/4” filled with bread. Smiling all day.
Saturday we drove to Sioux Falls to see my mom, and my brother Rich flew in from Albuquerque for the weekend. Saw my brothers Ray, Tim, sister Mary, sister-in-law Joni…went out to eat. What a great day!
With the vertigo, I got to spend some more time riding my stationary bike. I couldn’t fall all of this! No matter what, I still find ways to keep moving.
I also got to spend some time taking some pictures of flowers. The skies were not as cooperative this week, so I got some practice in with these kind of pictures:
I love this last one. The words behind it says it all, and overall, this ended up being a great week. Appreciate the wins when they come, because everything is not always going to work out the way you want it. There are silver linings hidden everywhere, sometimes we just have to look a little closer. This is not a story about running, but a story about returning, and taking the good things when they come. I can say today topped what ended up being a great week. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but none of us do. Go with it. Keep trying. Stay positive. Be grateful for those good moments. Sometimes you have to pay a little more attention to things to realize when those moments are. Keep moving everybody…”3/4 of a mile at at time!”
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak: # 872
by Dan | Jul 5, 2026 | Etc.
Well, this week was much better compared to last week. I am still not able to run, but I can go walking again. How fitting to be talking about “Freedom” during the 4th of July Holiday. This week I had freedom. Freedom to adapt. Freedom to enjoy. Freedom to participate. Freedom to appreciate. Sometimes these things are right there in front of you…you just need to slow down and appreciate it. If anything, this is what not be able to run has done for me…slow down!! No question with being hurt, I have had to learn to adapt and change what I do for working out, or just plain being able to exercise and move. The Freedom 5k run/walk was this Wednesday, and at least I got to participate…walking. I even pushed it a little and started practicing my “power walk”. It went well, and with my friends and family running in it, at least I got to be a part of it too.
Thursday I went to the Zoo…by myself. I took my camera, and telephoto lens, and went to go take pictures. No rush. Took as many picture’s as I wanted. I had a ball. Some of the birds there are so impressive, and I got great close-ups. I did take a few with my iphone, like this one of the kangaroos.
It was a great morning. We had a storm earlier in the week, and some of the clouds were quite impressive…and scary. The colors that showed up after, during sunset, were very cool! You can see this pictures on my Facebook page, under Reiffenberger Reflections.
Then I got to enjoy the 4th with Dan and Megan coming over, and later Owen and his girls came over to watch the fireworks on the lake. I did some experimenting with taking pictures of the fireworks, and here are a few of them (more next week, again with Reiffenberger Reflections!).
Bottom line, we all have the “freedom to choose”…make it count! One of the famous lines from Raiders of the lost Ark series: “Choose wisely!” Take care of yourself. Keep moving. Appreciate what is in front of you…and spend time with family! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak: # 858
by Dan | Jun 28, 2026 | Etc.
Some weeks just don’t go as planned. I will explain Monday later, because that was the day that saved the week. I have not been able to run now for over 2 months. I have a knee injury, and I have been going to therapy for this. I have been making progress, and so my therapy has also been advancing, and then after Tuesday’s session, I went backwards. I had the same knee pain as when I started and then developed another bruise on the inner aspect of my knee. I was hoping I would be running soon, but my knee had other ideas and showed me that I am not ready. I had to get creative again with the therapy, and I could not walk for 2 days, so I did my arm exercises. Afterall, my word for the year is “adapt”, so I had to adapt. My knee is now already better, and I am back walking, but will see what therapy says next week. Like the first picture, sometimes you have to “pull yourself back up” even if you really don’t want to!
I have also had a “cold” for the last several weeks, and it really hit this week. The last 4 nights I have not slept because I am constantly coughing. Rest. Fluids. I even tried some chicken soup (my mom’s solution!). This is improving now too, but man is it frustrating. Dealing with the knee, and then the coughing, and sleeping more during the day because I can’t at night…I was thinking first that this week was a total waste…and then I remembered I had the grandkids on Monday. How could it be a waste when I got to spend time with them! Life did not become bad because the grandkids were there. It became hard because life happened afterward. Those are different things. Maybe the positive isn’t finding a silver lining. Maybe it’s recognizing that even in a difficult week…I still had Monday! That doesn’t erase the cough. It doesn’t fix my knee. But it reminds you that one difficult chapter does not define the whole story. We got to play outside all day Monday playing. I was looking back at the pictures I took of them, and one last Sunday when Tom and I did a long walk with our dogs instead of running:
No question, the day I spent with the grandkids outweighed everything that did not go right the rest of the week. But the biggest thing is that this week is coming to an end, and next week is ready to begin. So yes, did I not have such a great week overall? Yes. Was it all bad? Absolutely not! My knee hurts…I am coughing…I am not sleeping… and I am frustrated. But I’m still here. Some weeks, that’s enough. What didn’t change this week? Sarah…the grandkids…my commitment to exercise…my values…my gratitude. Sometimes we just need to be resilient. Take the good with the bad. Really appreciate the good when it does show up. Does this mean we all need to learn to “adapt”? I guess there is no doubt why this is my word for the year! Different doesn’t mean defeated…just figure out a way to adapt! I am still moving forward…we all need to keep moving forward…and as I always say, “Keep moving everybody!”
Who knows, someday Connor may someday become an NFL quarterback! Look at that form and determination!!!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak: # 851
by Dan | Jun 21, 2026 | Etc.
Today is Father’s Day. The older I get, the more I realize that what we leave behind isn’t found in awards, careers, or accomplishments. It’s found in the people who want to come home. This Friday was my father-in-law Bill’s Birthday. 83 years old. His kids came home to celebrate both his birthday and Father’s Day. I spent quite a bit of time talking to him that afternoon. He talked about what he all did to get his house built, and the history behind it. The farm he grew up on, and how he “kept it” in the family. He was doing a lot of talking of what was important to him. Watching him interact with his family. Realizing what matters after a lifetime. And now, the privilege of being a grandfather myself.
I have been dealing with a knee injury the last few months and have not been able to run. I can bike, and I can walk. Both of these activities give me time to “think!” I did some thinking while out walking yesterday about the conversation I had with him. Every walk reminds me how much I took for granted. Maybe Father’s Day is similar. The older we get the more we appreciate things we once assumed would always be there.
This is the last picture of me with my Dad. He has been gone for over 12 years now. I have totally lost count how many times I continue to think of him. How I would like to discuss things with him. Get his advice. I was getting that with my Father-in-law on Friday. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so live each day with meaning. It got me thinking about my kids, when they came along, all the adventures, and “life” we had together. These are some that will always mean “more” to me:
This was taken the morning we brought our twins home. These 2 made me a Dad. Little did I know what was coming! You think you will get things figured out, and eventually you do, but majority of it is by trial and error. Hopefully, I did not have a lot of “error”, but no question, I had my share!
This was Molly, Megan, and Nick out cheering me on at Grandma’s Marathon. Sarah had T-shirts made for them. On the front they lined up and together they had: Go Dad Go! Boy did I get a boost from this. But…then they turned around, and I about broke down right there…
This said it all! And it still says it all! One guy running next to me and looked at me and said: “Wow! That is the coolest thing I have ever seen! You are making me cry!” They wore these at a few other races after that as well. I have used these pictures so many times in presentations I have given in the past. It is a forever memory that I thank Sarah for doing this…and the kids for being proud wearing them!
Friday, I watched an 83-year-old father surrounded by his children. Today I am celebrating Father’s Day. Monday I’ll spend time with my grandchildren. And somewhere in between, I was reminded that the greatest legacy isn’t what we accomplish. It’s the relationships we build along the way. Keep working on those relationships. And…keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 844
by Dan | Jun 14, 2026 | Etc.
Every grandparent knows there are certain phases that come and go. One year it’s dinosaurs. One year it’s tractors. One year it’s a card game called “Old Maid”…except in our house, it’s known as the “Old Lady”…prior to that it was the “Old Witch”. It just keeps getting better.
It is especially funny when Connor tells Grandma, “Grandpa and I are playing the “old lady” game!” If looks could kill!
We also got to go to the Zoo with them, and the next day went to the splash pad, and it was hot that day so it was perfect timing! But the biggest thing is we just got to spend time with them! Here are some of the shots of these events:
Of course, the one night they wanted to watch “Captain Hook”, so we put on the original Peter Pan animated movie. They loved it, and they were definitely glued to watching it.
We got to make them breakfast, and giggle during it as well…
And we got plenty of snuggle time with Caleb, who is now 10 months old.
We definitely had some “storm weather” this week, but once again, the views of the sunset after were incredible to see!
After a week like this, it is hard to put into words what all these memories will bring back going forward. I don’t know how long the “Old Lady” game will be his favorite, because “Slap Jack” was cruising to the front by the time we took them back home. Kids move on quickly. But for now, every visit seems to include a deck of cards and a request to play “just one more game!” Life moves quickly. Don’t get lost in the “shuffle”. Slow down and enjoy it. Savor it. Smile and laugh about it. Memories are forever. Keep moving everybody…I am always telling Sarah this, because you know she is an “old lady” now! Hee Hee!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 837
